baton twirling tips? during competition and pre-competition?

Question:9
days till my dance/baton twirling competition!
I'm so nervous!
food tips,
showmanship tips,
grooming tips,

anything!
please help...

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: 9
days till my dance/baton twirling competition!
I'm so nervous!
food tips,
showmanship tips,
grooming tips,

anything!
please help...

Grooming tips - have hair nice and neat - if you have long hair, pull it back in a ponytail or what your dance requires. Keep hair off your face. Don't put on too much makeup but just enough. If you have a hard time smiling, put a little vaseline on your teeth. Have baton ends cleaned, have your costume in neat condition. Have all parts of costume? Make sure your shoes are white (if you wear tennis shoes) and that the laces are tied in a good strong knot.

Showmanship tips - smile, you know the routine. If you make a mistake, don't let it show, just get to the next step if you can. If you drop your baton (which can happen) pick it up as quickly as possible and continue.

Food tips - you'll be so nervous you probably won't think about eating. However, if you do eat, make sure nothing gets stuck in your teeth, or even on your costume. Brush your teeth after you eat. Bring a towel to put over your costume if you have to eat. Also, drinking water helps, too. You'll be so nervous you won't realize how much fluid you will lose. Don't drink too much water before you go on stage.

Other tips - You'll be nervous and so with the other girls in your class. Take a deep breath and let it out. You have practiced and know the routine. There will be other dancers there and it will be a madhouse. Stay with your group as much as possible. Don't run around, up and down the aisles, talk loudly. If you watch a dance, please clap for the dancers (even if you didn't care for the routine). When in the audience, don't throw stuff to other girls - I went to one competition where some girls threw Skittles to audience members!

Remember, everyone will be nervous and have all sorts of energy to burn. Stretch, practice, oh, and make sure your hands are not too sweaty. It will be a long and tiring day. But when you get your award, say thank you, and sit down. You'll want to jump around and make noise but ruin other girls' chances of hearing their name and/or dance called.

A few tips...

1. Avoid looking at the ground when baton twirling unless necessary.....make eye contact almost always with the audience.

2. Don't frown during the performance...that includes choreographed entry and exit. Smile most of the time.....

3. Avoid wearing eyeglasses during your baton routine unless they have an attachment that will keep them from falling off when you lean forward. If you have to wear them also, use a backup pair, because there are accidents when you hit a baton very fast when you twirl it and hit the glasses very hard (rarely happens); this had led to broken glasses or a big permanent scratch you can't remove.....